Abstract: A method for estimating a temperature of a motor of a pitch drive mechanism of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, an actual temperature and at least one additional operating condition of the motor during a normal operating period of the wind turbine. The method also includes storing, via a pitch controller, the monitored temperatures and the monitored additional operating conditions of the motor for the normal operating period. Further, the method includes determining a relationship between the monitored temperatures and the monitored additional operating conditions of the motor for the normal operating period. Thus, in the event that the sensor fails to operate, the method includes determining, via the pitch controller, an estimated temperature of the motor based on the relationship.

Abstract: A method for estimating a temperature of a motor of a pitch drive mechanism of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, an actual temperature and at least one additional operating condition of the motor during a normal operating period of the wind turbine. The method also includes storing, via a pitch controller, the monitored temperatures and the monitored additional operating conditions of the motor for the normal operating period. Further, the method includes determining a relationship between the monitored temperatures and the monitored additional operating conditions of the motor for the normal operating period. Thus, in the event that the sensor fails to operate, the method includes determining, via the pitch controller, an estimated temperature of the motor based on the relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods of pre-charging a capacitor bank are provided. In particular, a power switch and a current limiting device can be coupled in series between a power source and a capacitor bank. Operation of the power switch can be controlled to limit a peak charging current applied to the capacitor bank during a pre-charging process. In this manner, a duty cycle of a pulse signal can be modified based at least in part on a measured current flowing into the current limiting device. In addition, a voltage at the capacitor bank can be monitored, and the pre-charging process can be ceased when the monitored voltage reaches a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a wind pitch adjustment system associated with a wind turbine system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the wind pitch adjustment system can include a power supply configured to convert an alternating current input signal into a direct current voltage, a controller configured to receive a signal from the power supply, and to provide one or more control commands to a pitch adjustment motor, and a surge stopping device comprising a switching element coupled between the power supply and the controller. The surge stopping device is configured to monitor an input voltage from a grid and to drive the switching element based at least in part on the monitored input voltage, such that the switching element is configured to block current flow through the switching element to the controller when the monitored input voltage is above a voltage threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a wind pitch adjustment system associated with a wind turbine system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the wind pitch adjustment system can include a power supply configured to convert an alternating current input signal into a direct current voltage, a controller configured to receive a signal from the power supply, and to provide one or more control commands to a pitch adjustment motor, and a surge stopping device comprising a switching element coupled between the power supply and the controller. The surge stopping device is configured to monitor an input voltage from a grid and to drive the switching element based at least in part on the monitored input voltage, such that the switching element is configured to block current flow through the switching element to the controller when the monitored input voltage is above a voltage threshold.

Abstract: A pitch control system for a wind turbine includes a backup battery bank assigned to each pitch drive motor, with each battery bank having a plurality of individual batteries connected in series. A battery charger is connected in parallel across each battery in the battery bank. A protective circuit is configured with each battery charger and includes a voltage comparator circuit that detects a reverse voltage applied to the battery charger above a threshold value to isolate the battery charger from the reverse voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods of pre-charging a capacitor bank are provided. In particular, a power switch and a current limiting device can be coupled in series between a power source and a capacitor bank. Operation of the power switch can be controlled to limit a peak charging current applied to the capacitor bank during a pre-charging process. In this manner, a duty cycle of a pulse signal can be modified based at least in part on a measured current flowing into the current limiting device. In addition, a voltage at the capacitor bank can be monitored, and the pre-charging process can be ceased when the monitored voltage reaches a threshold.

Abstract: A pitch control system for a wind turbine includes a backup battery bank assigned to each pitch drive motor, with each battery bank having a plurality of individual batteries connected in series. A battery charger is connected in parallel across each battery in the battery bank. A protective circuit is configured with each battery charger and includes a voltage comparator circuit that detects a reverse voltage applied to the battery charger above a threshold value to isolate the battery charger from the reverse voltage.

Abstract: Systems for communicating over a communication interface are provided. An integrated circuit includes circuitry for monitoring a current flowing between two terminals of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit also includes a voltage driver circuit for modulating a voltage between two terminals of the integrated circuit. The voltage driver modulates the voltage across the two terminals of the integrated circuit to encode data according to the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer protocol.

Abstract: A channel interface component including redundancy within a control system with highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels is provided. In one embodiment, a circuit includes: at least two highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels, each HART channel including an input terminal and an output terminal configured to connect with a HART device via a current loop; an channel interface component coupled to each HART channel that is configured to support HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device, wherein the channel interface component includes a suicide relay switch for connecting or disconnecting each HART channel from the HART device; and a programmable logic device coupled to the channel interface component that is configured to perform modulation and demodulation of HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device.

Abstract: Systems for communicating over a communication interface are provided. An integrated circuit includes circuitry for monitoring a current flowing between two terminals of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit also includes a voltage driver circuit for modulating a voltage between two terminals of the integrated circuit. The voltage driver modulates the voltage across the two terminals of the integrated circuit to encode data according to the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer protocol.

Abstract: An interface circuit board apparatus can include a shared circuit board base, a transceiver section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit transceiver sites configured to receive a plurality of transceiver component types, a termination section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit termination sites configured to receive a plurality of termination component types, and a connection section operatively coupled to the transceiver and termination sections, wherein the transceiver section, the termination section and the connection section are configurable to support a plurality of interface types based on the plurality of transceiver component types and the plurality of termination component types.

Abstract: A channel interface component including redundancy within a control system with highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels is provided. In one embodiment, a circuit includes: at least two highway addressable remote transfer (HART) channels, each HART channel including an input terminal and an output terminal configured to connect with a HART device via a current loop; an channel interface component coupled to each HART channel that is configured to support HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device, wherein the channel interface component includes a suicide relay switch for connecting or disconnecting each HART channel from the HART device; and a programmable logic device coupled to the channel interface component that is configured to perform modulation and demodulation of HART protocol signals for communications with the HART device.

Abstract: An interface circuit board apparatus can include a shared circuit board base, a transceiver section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit transceiver sites configured to receive a plurality of transceiver component types, a termination section disposed on the circuit board base, and having circuit termination sites configured to receive a plurality of termination component types, and a connection section operatively coupled to the transceiver and termination sections, wherein the transceiver section, the termination section and the connection section are configurable to support a plurality of interface types based on the plurality of transceiver component types and the plurality of termination component types.